Chapter 701: Exposed

His expression darkened slightly. "That kid, I don't know where he got a Water-Repelling Pearl. He dived into the deep sea, and I couldn't find him. I only managed to retrieve this pearl."

Jiang Fan was slightly surprised. The Sky Demon Emperor couldn't catch Wang Chongxiao either? That guy really did have some skill. However, Jiang Fan caught the key point: a Water-Repelling Pearl! Without one, it seemed the Demon Emperor would be restricted in various ways in the ocean. Didn't this mean that if Jiang Fan ever had a chance to go to sea, he could also escape into the ocean?

"Jiang Fan!"

The first thing the Sky Demon Emperor did upon his return was to search for Jiang Fan. Only after seeing him back did he visibly relax, opening his mouth to call him over. Jiang Fan calmly stepped forward and asked, "What are your orders, Your Majesty?" The Sky Demon Emperor scrutinized Jiang Fan from head to toe. "What did you gain?"

Jiang Fan clasped his hands apologetically. "I didn't find anything useful. Wang Chongxiao even searched me clean."

The Sky Demon Emperor was now extremely distrustful of Jiang Fan. He squinted his eyes, examining him. "Is that so?" A faint purple light glowed in his eyes, precisely the same special ability that Liuli once possessed: X-ray vision! After a scan, Jiang Fan truly had nothing on him except for a few spirit pills.

"Where's your purple sword?" The Sky Demon Emperor remembered that Jiang Fan had an exceptionally sharp longsword. Jiang Fan gave a bitter smile. "It all ended up benefiting someone else."

In reality, before leaving the cave, Jiang Fan had entrusted everything to the little Qilin for safekeeping. Given the Demon Emperor's extreme suspicion of him, he would never believe Jiang Fan's word alone. Fearing Jiang Fan had acquired something extraordinary in the Tiger Demon Emperor's cave, a body search was highly probable.

The Sky Demon Emperor's brow relaxed, and he felt somewhat relieved. "So, this kid also has moments of setback?" he thought.

"Out with the old, in with the new," the Sky Demon Emperor offered a feigned comfort, then his gaze fell upon Jiang Fan's Dragon-Binding Chains. After a moment of thought, he said, "Yunxia, give me the key."

Concubine Yunxia handed him the real key. The Sky Demon Emperor took it, examined it, and then tried to open the chains. With a click, the chains opened. "The key is real," the Sky Demon Emperor said, finally relieved, and re-fastened the lock.

Concubine Yunxia's heart pounded wildly. Jiang Fan was truly prescient. It turned out exactly as he had predicted: the Sky Demon Emperor would check the authenticity of the key. They almost gave themselves away! She reached out, intending to take back the key.

To her surprise, the Sky Demon Emperor casually tucked the key into his own robe. He gave a faint smile and said, "I'll keep it safe."

Concubine Yunxia's mind instantly became a tangled mess! It was over! The Dragon-Binding Chains were unbreakable, even for a Nascent Soul expert. Without the key, Jiang Fan would be bound for life. If Jiang Fan hadn't given her the real key, disaster would have struck. But even giving the real key, disaster still struck! A single key, whether given or not, led to a dead end! Why was Jiang Fan in such a difficult situation?

Little did she know, hidden quietly within the Sky Thunder Stone, lay a key forged from Memory Silver Sand. Since Jiang Fan had handed over the real key, how could he not have prepared a backup plan?

The Sky Demon Emperor was now completely at ease. He then picked up the Earth Qi Dragon Pearl and displayed it publicly. "Just a decent feng shui bead," he said. "If Elder Xuanyang likes it, you can have it." Elder Xuanyang examined it closely, a look of disappointment on his face. Clearly, with his discernment, he could tell that this was not the true Earth Qi Dragon Pearl.

"Since no one wants it..." Amidst gasps from the crowd, the Sky Demon Emperor crushed it into dust. Even Elder Xuanyang was startled. "Sky Demon Emperor, even if it's not the Earth Qi Dragon Pearl, it's still a priceless treasure! Why did you destroy it?" One must know, this was a treasure that even the Tiger Demon Emperor's cave could not suppress. Its earth qi was extraordinarily powerful, making it a potential embryo for refining a spiritual artifact.

But then, Elder Xuanyang immediately understood the Sky Demon Emperor's intention. Without this pearl, there would be no more earth qi explosions in the future. The Tiger Demon Emperor's cave would never reappear in the world, completely eliminating the hopes of the continent's demon race from breaking through to the Demon Emperor realm. From then on, this continent's demon race would forever have only one Demon Emperor! A shiver ran through his heart, and he said meaningfully, "Sky Demon Emperor, you are truly ruthless to your own kind."

The Sky Demon Emperor gave him a cold look. "You've finished exploring the Tiger Demon Emperor's cave. Please leave. You are not welcome here!"

Elder Xuanyang scoffed. "We don't care for this barbaric land either. Farewell!" With that, he immediately led his forces from Taicang Great State, setting sail and departing.

The West Sea Crown Prince and the East Sea Third Princess gave Jiang Fan a complicated look. They naturally saw that Jiang Fan's situation was dire. However, being beyond their reach, the West Sea Crown Prince was powerless. "Brother, take care of yourself," he said. "If fate allows, we shall meet again in the West Sea!" With a sigh, he returned to the ocean.

The East Sea Third Princess likewise wore a look of regret and sighed. "Wind and rain wither the blossoms, a lingering dream abruptly ends. The thorny flower will soon fade," she lamented. With a sigh, she too plunged into the ocean.

Jiang Fan was left completely bewildered. "You're getting emotional now?" he thought.

Finally, the Sky Demon Emperor looked at Mu Ziyu and frowned. "Aren't you leaving yet?"

Mu Ziyu gave Jiang Fan a complicated look. "Young Master Jiang, please... take care." She sighed silently. Such a fine human prodigy, yet he was about to fall into the hands of the Demon Emperor. With a sigh, she too returned to the ocean.

The Sky Demon Emperor surveyed his surroundings. He cast a final glance at the Tiger Demon Emperor's cave, which would now sink forever, and the long-standing hidden danger in his heart could finally be eliminated. No one would ever be able to replicate his path to becoming a Demon Emperor. The demon race would forever have only him as their sole emperor! Forever!

Just then, a blurred shadow flashed at the entrance of the Tiger Demon Emperor's cave. A small, brown, furry beast scurried out in a panic. The Demon Emperor's gaze sharpened, and he frowned. "A small spirit beast? Where did another living creature come from in the Tiger Demon Emperor's cave?"

Jiang Fan was also greatly surprised. The little Qilin? How did it get out? Didn't he tell it to wait until everyone was gone before quietly emerging? Running out in front of the Demon Emperor was enormous trouble!

"Master! Run!" The little Qilin's terrified voice immediately echoed in his mind. "That monster has escaped from the inner sanctum!"

"What?" The Hellish Desolate Beast had emerged? Had it devoured a part of Yan Daoan's soul, gained strength, and finally managed to break through the barrier?

Before he could confirm, a low growl echoed from within the Tiger Demon Emperor's cave. "Roar!" The roar was filled with savage, ferocious energy, carrying a chilling malice. It was as if a terrifying creature from the depths of hell had emerged!

"A Hellish Desolate Beast!" The Sky Demon Emperor gasped, letting out a cry of alarm.

Immediately after, he realized something, and his gaze sharpened like a blade. He glared at Ling Shu, Liuli, Concubine Yunxia, and Jiang Fan as if he wanted to devour them. "One of you has been to the inner sanctum! Who was it? Speak!!!"